William Kirtley

William Kirtley (1840–1919) was a British locomotive engineer who served as Locomotive Superintendent of the London, Chatham and Dover Railway from 1874 until 1898, when the LCDR's working agreement with the South Eastern Railway ended his independent post. He was the nephew of Matthew Kirtley of the Midland Railway and apprenticed under him at Derby.

Born at Tanfield, County Durham on 29 December 1840, William joined the LCDR after assisting his uncle. His most successful design was the 'M3 Class' 4-4-0 of 1891 used on the LCDR's Continental boat trains, a sober, well-built engine that served into Southern Railway days. He retired on the formation of the SECR working agreement in 1898 and died at London on 4 September 1919.